The Training guide to the Hable One (iOS)

 

Updated July 2023 for iOS Devices

This training guide will take you step by step through all functionalities of the Hable One. First, it explains how to get started and how to set up the Hable One correctly. Then it explains how to navigate, type, and edit texts on your phone and finally how the Hable menu works.

This guide is intended for new users, friends and family or technology trainers. You can reach out to support@iamhable.com for queries or questions about smartphones or brand new hable one.

Here you can find an overview of the different chapters :

  1. Setting up for the first time
  2. Operating the phone
  3. Typing 
  4. Editing text
  5. Shortcuts
  6. Working with the Hable Menu

You can set your own pace based on how fast or slow you get through the document. For complete beginners, we recommend that you work through one chapter every day.

Have fun with this starter guide!


First time set-up

This video explains in full what the Hable One is. With the help of this trainer guide, you will be able to use the controller quickly. This guide covers how to use the Hable with VoiceOver settings switched on. To use Hable with the VoiceOver setting switched off, please contact Hable. VoiceOver provides audio feedback while using the Hable One. First, we will explain how to hold, set up and use the Hable One.

What’s in the box

In the box you will find the following:

Holding the Hable One

The Hable One has one flat side and one side with buttons. Furthermore there is a power slider on the top side of the Hable One. When the power slider is facing the ceiling and the side with the buttons is pointing away from you, you can turn the Hable One on by sliding the power slider to the right. On the bottom of the Hable, there is a charging port. On the bottom right of the Hable One, there is a place to attach the lanyard, which is also included in the box.

When using the Hable One, hold the controller in the air with both hands; do not place it on a table or desk. If you prefer to lay it down, you can, but we recommend you change the button settings. See the Hable Menu section on how to do this. Make sure the power slider is facing the ceiling. The flat back side should point towards you, this way the buttons will automatically point away from you. 

Hold the controller with both hands. You do this by wrapping your hands around the short side of the Hable One. Once done correctly, your index, middle and ring fingers will fall on the six braille buttons or dots. Note that the buttons point away from you, and you press them towards you. 

From now on, each button is indicated by numbers. The six small buttons are numbered like a braille cell. The three buttons in your left hand are numbered as one, two and three, with button one being closest to the power slider and button three being furthest away. The three buttons on your right hand are numbered four, five and six, with button four being closest to the power slider and button six being furthest away.

Place the left-hand index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger on buttons one, two and three respectively. Place the right-hand index, middle and ring fingers on the four, five and six buttons respectively.

There are two longer buttons, which are the function buttons. On the left side of your left index finger, you will find button seven. On the right side of your right index finger, you will find button eight.

First time connecting to the phone

Make sure that VoiceOver is enabled on your phone. To do this go to your phone settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Turn on VoiceOver or use the accessibility shortcut to enable it.

Charging the Hable One

When the Hable One is out of battery, you can charge it with the cable that you received in the box. When it is fully empty it takes four to five hours to charge it completely.  The charging port is on the bottom side of the Hable One. When the charger is connected, there will be 3 short vibrations.

Bluetooth

The Hable One pairs using bluetooth. To pair the Hable One with your smartphone, go to settings on your phone then turn on bluetooth. You can also use Siri to turn on bluetooth. Next step is to switch Hable on.

When you hold the device in the correct position, you turn the Hable One on by sliding the slide switch all the way to the right. The Hable One will vibrate twice when it is switched on. This indicates that the device is charged and ready to use. Next step is to pair the Hable with the phone.

Look for the name of the controller "Hable One", in the list of more devices. Once you have found the device name, double click to start pairing. If the controller is not visible, try turning the Hable One off and on again. If the pairing was successful, the Hable One will vibrate to indicate that it is connected. The Hable One is now ready to use.

Smartphone mode

The first time your Hable One connects to your phone, it automatically recognises whether it is in iOS or Android mode.  If you have previously paired it with an Android phone, you can change the mode manually. To find out how to do this, go to the Hable Menu section in this manual.

Language

The Hable One can be set to several languages. Before we send the Hable One to you, we already set it to the right language for you. If you want to know how to change the language, please check the Hable Menu section of the user manual.


Basic functions

Navigating the phone with the Hable One is easy to learn. In this section you will learn the basics on how to move through your phone. You can go to the next and previous item, select an item and move to the home screen. This section covers the basic functions. For more functions refer to the all functions guide.

Some functions will follow. Also a short explanation will be given on how to perform them on the Hable One and an example of where you would use it:

Move to next item

Hold 7 and press 8

When you are in the home screen and want to navigate from one app to the next app. You can navigate between items even within an app using this function.

        

Move to previous item

Hold 8 and press 7

When you are in the home screen and want to navigate from one app to the previous app.

Select an item

Press 7 and 8

To open an app once the focus is on the icon.

        

Home screen shortcut

Hold 1,2 and 5 (Same as the braille letter ‘h’)

When you want to exit the application you are on and want to go to the home screen directly.

In case any problems occur while using the Hable One, you can consult the problem solving guide for a solution.

Typing

Typing is one of the most important functions of the Hable One. Typing works the same as with other braille input devices. In case you are not familiar with the braille alphabet yet, the Hable One braille manual will be helpful for you. Let us begin.

Typing letters

Same as Braille - So, when you press button 1, you write the letter 'a'. Buttons 1 and 2 give the letter 'b', Buttons 1 and 4 give 'c', and so on. See also the Braille manual.

Typing contractions

Same as Braille – You enable or disable contractions by holding 1,2,4 and 5 (these combinations of buttons are the same as the braille letter ‘g’).

Dictation

Hold 2

By holding 2 you activate the dictation function. When you are done dictating, hold 2 again.

Space

Press 8

Backspace

Press 7

Enter (or new line)

Press 1 and 8

Shift enter

Press 2 and 8

Note that in message apps, such as Whatsapp, Shift Enter creates a new line, whilst Enter sends the message.

Numbers

Press 3,4,5,6 first. This is to create a distinction between typing letters and numbers. Then, button 1 on the Hable One gives number one. Button 1 and 2 gives number two and so on. You might notice, these are in the same order as alphabets. To go back to typing alphabets, press button 8 for space and continue.

Capitals

Press 6 first, followed by the letter you want to type. This works the same as the shift key on your keyboard, so the character after the capital letter will automatically be a lower case. Note that the capital sign might be different per language. Pressing 6 twice activates Caps for the coming word. Pressing 6 three times activates CapsLock and is deactivated by pressing Enter.

Text editing

Making text editing easier is one of the most important functions of the Hable One. With the basic functions of text editing, you can browse through your written texts, erase, and replace characters or words. You can also start new lines.

Functions, how to perform them on the Hable One and an example of where you would use it:

4.1. Move cursor to next character

Hold 7 and press 4

In the word “Hable”, if you want the cursor to go from the letter ‘H’ to ‘a’

4.2. Move cursor to previous character

Hold 4 and press 7

In the word “Hable”, if you want the cursor to go from the letter ‘a’ to ‘H’

For the above two functions, it is important to remember that VoiceOver reads out the character that the insertion point goes past.

4.3. Go to next word

Hold 7 and press 5.

4.4. Go to previous word

Hold 5 and press 7

4.5. Backspace

Press 7

4.6. New line

Press 1 and 8 (make sure to only press the 1 and 8 shortly)

Wherever you would use the enter key on your keyboard

4.7. Shift enter

Press 2 and 8

4.8. Rotor

The rotor is a menu specifically for IOS that allows the user to access special functions such as Speaking rate or navigation methods such as per heading, line or character.

4.8.1. Next rotor setting

Hold 7 and press 5 and 6

4.8.2. Previous rotor setting

Hold 5 and 6 and Press 7

4.8.3. Next item using the rotor setting

Hold 7 and press 6

4.8.4. Previous item using the rotor setting

Hold 6 and press 7

For text editing, there are a few tricks to remember the button combinations more easily. All text editing is built around button 7 for your left hand and buttons 4,5 and 6 for your right hand. In addition, all actions are mirrored, so if you know how to go forward, you could figure out how to go back. For example, you can move to the next character by holding down button 7 and pressing button 4 once. To go back one character, hold down key 4 and press key 7 once.

Shortcuts

The Hable One uses several shortcut keys to quickly navigate through the phone. Most of these shortcuts are easy to remember with some tricks. As you read through this chapter, we recommend that you use the shortcuts as you read them. Some of these shortcuts you may have learned in previous chapters, but it is helpful to repeat them. Let's get started!

Functions, how to perform them on the Hable One and an example of where you would use it:

Pause reading: Hold 1

When you want VoiceOver to stop reading a text. If you hold 1 again, VoiceOver starts reading again.

Two finger double tap (or magic touch): Hold 3

This function can be used for various things including: Picking up the phone, hanging up the phone, pausing or playing music and pausing and playing videos.

Notifications: Hold 1,3,4 and 5

When you want an overview of the messages you have received without opening them. Same as the braille letter ‘n’.

 

Status bar: Hold 2,3 and 4

If you want a quick scan of the time, WiFi status etc. Same as the braille letter ‘s’.

Control centre: Hold 2, 4 and 5

The Control center is a small menu that gives access to some important, much used functions. Examples are the flashlight, the Wifi and the Bluetooth settings. Which settings are in here exactly is dependent on the phone and preferences. The control center can always be opened and closed by pressing 2,4 and 5.

Move to top of screen: Hold 1,2 and 3

Navigates to the first clickable item on the screen

Move to bottom of screen: Hold 4,5 and 6

Navigates to the last clickable item on the screen

Back: Hold 1 and 2

When you want to return to the last page you were on. Same as the braille letter ‘b’.

Mute VoiceOver: Hold 1,3 and 4

Hold again to turn on again

Activating Siri: Hold 1, 4 and 5

To open an app with voice command. Please note that these functions only work if you have Siri enabled in your settings. If there are any problems with this function, please go to the troubleshooting guide. Same as the Braille letter ‘d’.

Screen Curtain: Hold 3 and 4

The screen curtain makes the screen black without turning the phone off.

Hable Menu

In the Hable Menu you can change the device settings, change the button layout, or check the battery status. Please note that every time you open the Hable menu and perform an action, you automatically leave the Hable menu. So, if you want to perform a new action, you must first press and hold buttons 1,2,3,4,5,6 again.

Hable settings menu: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 to enter the hable menu.

4 vibrations will indicate a hable menu. Hable will exit the menu once you pick an option from the menu.

ABAE settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,3,6

Is part of language group 1.

Android system: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1 to activate settings for android

YouTube Tutorial Link

Battery status: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 3,6.

3 vibrations means full charge and 1 vibration means low charge.

Belgium country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 12 to activate settings for iphone

YouTube Tutorial Link

Braille dot settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,3,4,6.

Dot 1 and 3 will switch meaning. Dot 4 and 6 will switch meaning. Repeat to switch again.

Finnish country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,4

Is part of language group 2.

YouTube Tutorial Link

France country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,2,4

Is part of language group 1.

YouTube Tutorial Link

Germany country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,2,4,5

Is part of language group 1.

YouTube Tutorial Link

Icelandic country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,2,3

Is part of language group 2.

YouTube Tutorial Link

iPhone and iPad system: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 2

YouTube Tutorial Link

Long press delay or vibration length: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,2,3

Repeat the action to change the settings. 4 vibrations is the longest duration while 1 vibration is shortest.

YouTube Tutorial Link

Netherlands country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,4,5

Is part of language group 2.

YouTube Tutorial Link

Spanish country settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 2,3,4

YouTube Tutorial Link

UEB settings: Hold 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then hold 1,5

Is part of language group 1 and 2.

YouTube Tutorial Link

Congratulations! You have now reached the end of this getting started guide. We now recommend that you use the functions manual to look up specific and more advanced functions. If you feel like you need further help, feel free to contact us at support@iamhable.com.

On behalf of the entire Hable Team, good luck with your Hable One!